The trapeze artist dares to let go and fly! Her strength, skills, and  flexibility can only take her so far though. To have the courage to let go and leap forward, she's had to invest in a good safety net.

For many of us, good support at work and in our personal lives is key to enabling us to do all we do. When you know the support is there, whether it is practical or emotional, you can feel comfortable stretching yourself further.  

At work support comes in many guises - an active cheering on by someone who knows when you most need it, someone who steps in at a moment's notice when the kids are ill, the team who rally round when there's peak workload, the manager who proposes meetings at times that work! And, and, and 

In our home lives, support is invaluable - someone you can download your day to/with, someone you can bounce random ideas off, someone who makes things easier for you in some way, someone who actively helps you with your out of work commitments, someone to have some fun with and who helps you restore your balance in some way. And a whole heap more. 

At times, we may look outside our immediate networks for support - a professional, a website, friends of friends, someone you hardly know but find yourself spilling it all out to, a new work colleague you immediately click with. 

Yet how often do we call in our support? and how strenuously have we tested out this safety net? In a circus, you'd do this pretty regularly!  

There are times when we might have to "drop everything" - either at work, or at home. Or both! I have tested this "both" out several times now - (not deliberately of course). And it does give you a new sense of security to know that there are people who really are there for you.

Do we always accept the support that is available and offered? Do we make the most of the company policies which are there to support working parents? Do we ask for the help we need?  I strongly suspect not - based on the conversations I have with mums, and on my own experience.

Why not test out your safety net? How much more will you reach for when you know it's strong, it's powerful and it's there? 

  And if there are weaknesses in the net? Things changing as people move on, as your role changes, as your children grow? Prioritise investment in your safety net - so you can keep on your magnificent flying trapeze act!